PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Ricky Stevenson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kenshin Suzuki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Stevenson
vs
Suzuki

176 cm
23
164 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

175 cm
21
164 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ricky Stevenson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kenshin Suzuki!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Hirohito Nitta and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The fight stays on the outside here - Suzuki looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Stevenson clinches but Suzuki breaks the clinch
and Suzuki counters with a head kick. That will keep Stevenson thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!

Suzuki shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Suzuki was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Suzuki controlling from the full mount.
Stevenson sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.

Stevenson looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Stevenson with the active half guard here but Suzuki passes nicely into side control.

Suzuki is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Stevenson is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Suzuki decides to stand up, so the ref orders Stevenson to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Stevenson tries to keep at a distance but Suzuki has taken the fight into the clinch.
Suzuki misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Stevenson.
Stevenson lands a knee to the body.
Stevenson tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Suzuki just stands there and leans against the cage.
Suzuki trying to land knees to the body.
Stevenson lands a nice elbow.
Suzuki trying to stall but Stevenson improves his position.
Stevenson lands a knee to the head.
A knee to the head by Stevenson.
Suzuki blocks an elbow strike from Stevenson.
Suzuki tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Stevenson crunches a lovely knee into Suzuki's ribcage.
Stevenson tries to score a body lock takedown but Suzuki shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Stevenson gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Suzuki fails to pull guard.
Suzuki tries to land knees in the clinch but Stevenson avoids the damage to the body.
Suzuki managing to block the knees to the body from Stevenson.
Stevenson is breathing heavily.
Suzuki on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Knees in the clinch landing for Suzuki.

Suzuki breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Stevenson wants to clinch but Suzuki slips to the side

and Suzuki counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Suzuki sitting in guard here, content to control.
Suzuki trying to control but Stevenson is working from the bottom.

Stevenson looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Suzuki keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Stevenson's head.
Suzuki preventing the sweep.
Stevenson keeping moving, preventing Suzuki from controlling successfully.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Suzuki sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Stevenson's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Suzuki controlling the pace.

Suzuki is working for a submission of some sort.
Suzuki is keen to just control but Stevenson is a slippery customer.
Stevenson tries to roll over but Suzuki keeps him under control.
Suzuki is tying to control. Stevenson wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Suzuki sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Stevenson defending well though.
Suzuki takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Stevenson is trying to escape back to his feet but Suzuki uses the scramble to pass into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Stevenson is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Suzuki throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Stevenson's waist but Stevenson gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Suzuki off to one side.

Suzuki clinches up against the cage.
Suzuki tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Ricky Stevenson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kenshin Suzuki.
Stevenson scores a nice knee to the body.
Stevenson is pressed up against the cage. Suzuki has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Stevenson down to the mat. Stevenson avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Stevenson tries for a takedown but Suzuki circles away easily

and Suzuki counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Stevenson has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Suzuki avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Stevenson with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Suzuki has had enough of the clinch but Stevenson keeps him there for the moment.
Stevenson misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Suzuki.
Suzuki drops down looking for an ankle pick but Stevenson pulls his leg out and moves away.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Suzuki fails in his attempt to clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kenshin Suzuki dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Suzuki misses with a takedown

and Stevenson counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Stevenson creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Suzuki's defenses.
Stevenson gets underhooks to prevent Suzuki's takedown attempt.
Stevenson scores with a knee to the head.
Stevenson lands a nice knee to the body.
Suzuki looking to throw knees to the head but Stevenson is blocking nicely.
Stevenson prevents the takedown attempt.
Ricky Stevenson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kenshin Suzuki.
Stevenson tries to land a knee to the head but Suzuki blocks with his arms.
Stevenson lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Suzuki tries for a takedown but Stevenson manages to get underhooks.

Stevenson has hold of one of Suzuki's legs. Suzuki is fighting the takedown attempt but Stevenson gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Suzuki working a defensive guard here.
Stevenson trying to control the position from guard on top but Suzuki is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Suzuki trying to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stevenson wants to control from the top but Suzuki keeps moving.
Suzuki looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Suzuki tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Stevenson has managed to clinch.
Stevenson scores a nice knee to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Stevenson lands a knee to the body.
Stevenson throws an elbow but it misses.
Stevenson on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Stevenson tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Stevenson creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.

Suzuki manages to break the clinch.
Nice takedown defense from Stevenson. No joy for Suzuki on that attempt.
Suzuki darts in trying to clinch

so Stevenson counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Suzuki keeping full guard, as Stevenson tries to pass.

Stevenson drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Suzuki manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Stevenson has Suzuki in his guard.

Stevenson looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Suzuki wants to control from the top but Stevenson keeps moving.
Suzuki seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Suzuki tries to free his leg and advance position but Stevenson is retaining full guard.
Stevenson wants to stand up but Suzuki is controlling him.
Stevenson wants to control but Suzuki passes easily into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Suzuki frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Suzuki with the ground and pound from mount.
Suzuki trying to control but Stevenson is having none of it.
Stevenson tries to improve his position but instead Suzuki has taken his back!
Stevenson looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ricky Stevenson dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Suzuki takes the fight into the clinch.
Suzuki avoiding damage as Stevenson throws knees to the body.
Suzuki fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Suzuki escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
No luck for Suzuki with that takedown attempt.
Suzuki throws a head kick but Stevenson moves out of range.
Stevenson looks to clinch

and Suzuki counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Stevenson tries to kick Suzuki off but Suzuki keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Suzuki works his foot free and advances to mount.
Stevenson is wriggling around trying to escape.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Suzuki looking to secure an arm triangle but Stevenson defends it well.
Stevenson tries to hold on but Suzuki postures up.
Stevenson is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
Suzuki controlling the position easily from mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Stevenson is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

Suzuki is working to isolate an arm here. It's a telegraphed submission attempt but he's gone for it anyway - and he's got it! Suzuki extends the arm and Stevenson is forced to tap!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:40 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Kenshin Suzuki!